Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

Most tape wounds that I've seen are actually very light round wounds with a thick layer of tape on them, they are probably exerting much less pressure on your neck than whatever you had on there before. I would loosen the truss rod counter-clockwise, the strings should come off the neck. I would do that before I did anything else, you may not even need to adjust your bridge, just set the truss rod correct for your new strings. As long as that has not been like that for a long time the neck should spring back depending on how much you turn the truss rod, remember you want to loosen it, not tighten it.

Very true of my La Bellas. I had to adjust the '06 with them and never needed to with any other strings I tried. Speaking of which, I need to go play that bass tonight.

 

[dagrev]

I’m not Norman.

View attachment 4631303

I'd love to hear that Pbass in action. I bet it sounds great.

 

[bobyoung53]

Very true of my La Bellas. I had to adjust the '06 with them and never needed to with any other strings I tried. Speaking of which, I need to go play that bass tonight.

Yeah, they're actually very light low tension strings compared to most anything else of the same gauge.

 

[JJR58]

I'd love to hear that Pbass in action. I bet it sounds great.

It’s not half bad.
Needs a new new neck though.

 

[WillyW]

I can’t get to step 3 as the strings are still on the frets. I’ve put at least 3/4 clockwise turns on the TR and not seeing a lot of relief. Also, the shim looks mighty high.

View attachment 4631268



EDIT: Sorry, misread. It was asking for back bow and I do have that. I was confused as most fixed bridge bass setups ask you to start with some relief and go from there. Still have the strings on the frets so can't tune per step 3.

you may need to take a couple turns out of the truss rod.

peepholes that tell you to take 1/67th turn and wait 6 weeks for the next 1/67th turn, have their strings changed by the luthier at geetar center.

 

[lildrgn]

As much as I'd love to go through 10055 pages of Tbird Club, I just don't have it in me.

As I mentioned in a post that was made only 2-3 days ago but is now buried likely 10 pages back, I am trying to learn more about Tbirds after never having any interest in them before. I am gravitating towards the Epiphone Classic Pro, which seems to be the best bang for buck based on my minimal research. I specifically want to know the differences between the current 60s Tbird (as shown on www.epiphone.com) vs the Classic Pro. I seem to remember seeing that the CP is now called the 60s version?? And what is the Vintage Pro? Who has the spread sheet documenting the differences??

I'm seeing some basses with VVT knobs parallel to the strings. Then I'm seeing others with 4 knobs in a diamond/square pattern. Some basses have chrome pickups and hardware while others have black. Is there a difference beyond aesthetics and looks?

Would love to track down a white one, but that appears to be a unicorn, of sorts.

Thanks TBird Club!

 

[Stealth57]

Yeah, they're actually very light low tension strings compared to most anything else of the same gauge.

Yes, step 1 said add back bow. That was opposite of what i needed. Put in a lot of relief compared to step 1. Raised the bridge a bit and now no buzz on higher frets. Going to work on lower frets and open strings. I’m sure things will move around over the next few days but I’ll tweak as needed. Loving the feel and sound of the LaBellas. Have them on 2 other basses and on two I sold.

 

[TBird1958]

Here's my Thunderbird. I got this for Christmas back in 2018. It's by far the loudest bass I own and it has possibly my favorite tone as well. I sometimes wish I had a second T-Bird, actually. I often find myself regretting passing up on a white one that was at my local guitar center for a time in 2016.

My inspiration for taking the pickguard off was Pete Way of UFO

Welcome here FirstHelmetDrop, your inspiration has long been one of mine as well. Please feel free to join in the conversation, we welcome questions - strings, amps, straps what works for you! You're #872 here!



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Kat888 #888

 

[Stealth57]

Thanks for the suggestions on the LaBella tapes. Adding the relief vs the back bow (per the instructions), got me in the ballpark. A bit of bridge adjustment and it is all playable again. It will need to sit for a few days to see where the TR settles out, but good for now.

I did notice that finger placement on the frets is a bit different than my other basses. Something I didn't notice with the SS rounds that were on it before. To avoid buzz I need to be about the middle of the fret where my other basses want to be closer to the fret wire. Anyone else see this type of difference?

 

[TBird1958]

As much as I'd love to go through 10055 pages of Tbird Club, I just don't have it in me.

As I mentioned in a post that was made only 2-3 days ago but is now buried likely 10 pages back, I am trying to learn more about Tbirds after never having any interest in them before. I am gravitating towards the Epiphone Classic Pro, which seems to be the best bang for buck based on my minimal research. I specifically want to know the differences between the current 60s Tbird (as shown on www.epiphone.com) vs the Classic Pro. I seem to remember seeing that the CP is now called the 60s version?? And what is the Vintage Pro? Who has the spread sheet documenting the differences??

I'm seeing some basses with VVT knobs parallel to the strings. Then I'm seeing others with 4 knobs in a diamond/square pattern. Some basses have chrome pickups and hardware while others have black. Is there a difference beyond aesthetics and looks?

Would love to track down a white one, but that appears to be a unicorn, of sorts.

Thanks TBird Club!

I'll take on a little of this, the Vintage Pro and the '60s Thunderbird are one and the same with some slight differences in the tuning machines. The pickups are not used in any of the other Thunderbirds Epiphone offers.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Music, or a subject we don't discuss here?

Do fried chickens sing? That would make it both.

 

[TBird1958]

Here's a review of the Classic Pro Thunderbird I wrote.

Classic Thunderbird Pro IV Review

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Did anybody else here forget that Roger Glover played a Gibson Thunderbird bass?

"You can't forget what you can't remember!" -Esther O'Neal (now Dale)

 

[JJR58]

Here's a review of the Classic Pro Thunderbird I wrote.

Classic Thunderbird Pro IV Review

Just wish mine was a 2013.
That year the neck pup is closer to the bridge, a bit more positioned like the originals.
And thx to @bylar13 for the Lollars.

 

[TBird1958]

Just wish mine was a 2013.
That year the neck pup is closer to the bridge, a bit more positioned like the originals.
And thx to @bylar13 for the Lollars.

View attachment 4631432

Jeez, I just looked at the date of that review.....Almost 10 years ago that I bought that bass for Uwe.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I’m not Norman.

View attachment 4631303

Normies don't play Thunderbirds. Hence, you are my people.

 

[BklynKen]

Just wish mine was a 2013.
That year the neck pup is closer to the bridge, a bit more positioned like the originals.
And thx to @bylar13 for the Lollars.

View attachment 4631432

Did the same go for the Gibsons? I didn't know they shifted pickup positions.

 

[KaraQ]

As much as I'd love to go through 10055 pages of Tbird Club, I just don't have it in me.

As I mentioned in a post that was made only 2-3 days ago but is now buried likely 10 pages back, I am trying to learn more about Tbirds after never having any interest in them before. I am gravitating towards the Epiphone Classic Pro, which seems to be the best bang for buck based on my minimal research. I specifically want to know the differences between the current 60s Tbird (as shown on www.epiphone.com) vs the Classic Pro. I seem to remember seeing that the CP is now called the 60s version?? And what is the Vintage Pro? Who has the spread sheet documenting the differences??

I'm seeing some basses with VVT knobs parallel to the strings. Then I'm seeing others with 4 knobs in a diamond/square pattern. Some basses have chrome pickups and hardware while others have black. Is there a difference beyond aesthetics and looks?

Would love to track down a white one, but that appears to be a unicorn, of sorts.

Thanks TBird Club!

Vintage Pro; aka 60s Thunderbird:

Classic Pro, out of production, most similar to current Gibson Thunderbirds:
(normally has black hardware & pickups)

Thunderbird Pro; this one's a five string, also made as a 4-string. Active electronics, which is why it has four controls; also out of production:

All of the above are neck-through. The only bolt-on model, the Classic IV:

There are some special editions of the Classic IV that have been made in the past, like the Blackbird:

Hope that maybe helps a bit?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

As much as I'd love to go through 10055 pages of Tbird Club, I just don't have it in me.

As I mentioned in a post that was made only 2-3 days ago but is now buried likely 10 pages back, I am trying to learn more about Tbirds after never having any interest in them before. I am gravitating towards the Epiphone Classic Pro, which seems to be the best bang for buck based on my minimal research. I specifically want to know the differences between the current 60s Tbird (as shown on www.epiphone.com) vs the Classic Pro. I seem to remember seeing that the CP is now called the 60s version?? And what is the Vintage Pro? Who has the spread sheet documenting the differences??

I'm seeing some basses with VVT knobs parallel to the strings. Then I'm seeing others with 4 knobs in a diamond/square pattern. Some basses have chrome pickups and hardware while others have black. Is there a difference beyond aesthetics and looks?

Would love to track down a white one, but that appears to be a unicorn, of sorts.

Thanks TBird Club!

Welcome! I'll address some of this, which I agree, does need to be in a document somewhere. I'm hoping to do that soon (with assists from the incredible Thunderbird minds here).

Dealing only with the reverse birds (the original shape), here are the major Epiphone variants (someone else can address the Gibsons, Grecos, etc.):

1. Thunderbird IV: three knobs (VVT), jack beside knobs, bolt-on neck, three-point bridge, no belly cut, 1.73" nut. Fairly dark sounding. (discontinued)
2. Goth Thunderbird: similar to Thunderbird IV, but all black. Small Y tuners. Celtic cross on PG. XII inlay on 12th fret (no other markers). (discontinued)
3. Nikki Sixx Blackbird: somewhat similar to Goth but no knobs, 1 on/off toggle, iron cross/Tbird logo on PG, iron cross fret markers, jack on end. (discontinued)
4. Thunderbird Pro: 4 knobs in a diamond (Volume, blend, bass, treble), active electronics, flush-mount bridge, belly cuts, neck-through, 1.5" nut, jack on end. Also available as a 5 string. Not atypical active bass sound. (discontinued)
5. Classic Pro: three knobs (VVT), jack on side, three point bridge, belly cuts, neck through, 1.5" nut, small Y tuners, jack on end. Modern Thunderbird sound, somewhat dark (thunder for days). (discontinued)
6. Vintage Pro: three knobs (VVT), jack on side, Tune-o-matic bridge with claw tailpiece, belly cuts, neck through, 1.5" nut, jack on end, large cloverleaf tuners, ginormous headstock, pickups close to 60s Gibson birds, does the angry piano perfectly, not *quite* as much thunder as the CP. (discontinued)
7. 60s Thunderbird: essentially a rebranded VP with minor changes. (theoretically available)

All of these except the Goth had a Thunderbird on the PG and dot markers at the usual frets. All are dual pickup.
There were a number of other models available as limited editions, such as the silverburst and TV silver models. Many of these were otherwise similar to the Thunderbird IV.

OK, wing-heads, what did I miss? (Edit: Kara's post reminded me that I had meant to include the Blackbird)

 

[MCF]

Was the making of a video.

The one you posted a couple years ago? You need to post it again.